The introduction of transgenic cotton expressing the CrylAc insecticidal crystal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is expected to provide the basis for pest management in cotton in the near future and to reduce the usage of pesticides in the industry. However the potential for over-reliance on Bt-cotton to result in the development of resistance to Bt by Helicoverpa armigera has been identified (Edge, 1994). Recognising that his resistance would undermine the basis for pest management the cotton industry has devoted resources to addressing the problem. Experience with resistance to synthetic chemical insecticides has shown that there are options for managing resistance. One of the major options being examined is the provision of alternative means of control that will complement the Bt cotton. Among these alternatives is the identification of new insecticidal crystal proteins from Bt. Over the past four years an additional 35 Bt insecticidal crystal proteins have been recorded, demonstrating that the diversity of these insecticidal toxins is much greater than previously recognised. We have taken advantage of new molecular technologies to search for new insecticidal crystal proteins that can be used to complement CrylAc in a resistance management program.

Crop monoculture frequently causes a build up of weeds, diseases, insects and soil fertility problems. Furthermore continuous cotton production in the Macquarie Valley often causes soil compaction leading to poor crop growth and yields. While cotton growers in the Macquarie Valley have shown an interest in using rotations to minimise degradation of the crop environment, information on the merits of different rotations is sparse. This experiment was set up to provide such data.

Controlling heliothine caterpillars presents an ever greater challenge for the Australian cotton industry. The bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, creates especial problems by evolving resistance to most major chemical insecticides. Chemical insecticides are furthermore associated with environmental dangers and increased production costs due to the need to overcome resistance.

Spider mites are world-wide pests of a variety of crops. They are important pests of cotton as they can reduce plant vigour which leads to reduced yield (up to 90%), inferior fibre and inferior seed quality (Wilson, 1993); control of spider mites is expensive and they are able to develop resistance to miticides. The two spotted spider mite comprises 99% of cotton mite pests in Australia.

Australia's continued expansion in raw cotton production is directly dependent on the industry's ability to market its product to overseas buyers. Trade in the world cotton and textile markets is increasingly competitive. As cotton's share of world textile demand has declined from approximately 75 per cent in 1950 to around 46 per cent today, manufacturers are continuously seeking new technology to increase margins and relocating their plants to reduce labour and operating costs . Major world producers and traders of raw cotton are, likewise, taking an increasingly aggressive marketing approach, differentiating and promoting their product to both existing and emerging markets.

Cotton fibres are differentiated from single cells of the outer epidermis of ovules and originate at, or soon after, anthesis (Ramsey and Berlin, 1976). Cotton fibre differentiation, characterised by a precise and synchronous growth and uncomplicated by cell division, is a suitable experimental system in which to study cellular and developmental events. In addition, the commercial desirability of long fibres has stimulated studies of the factors involved in controlling the extent of fibre growth. The main aim of this project was to isolate and characterise cDNA clones of mRNAs which are specific to, or important in, cotton fibre development.

We introduce a new idea, that recovery capacity is an important trait in cotton resistance to insect damage. We developed an index of recovery capacity that can be measured in short, simple and inexpensive glasshouse experiments. Using this index, we show that: A considerable variability exists among cotton genotypes in their capacity for recovery. - A substantial proportion of variation among cotton genotypes in yield losses due to insects, including Helicoverpa and mirids, can be accounted for the variability in their recovery capacity.

The 1995/96 season saw the first occasion when CSIRO varieties with the Monsanto Ingard gene were tested on commercial farms. This article presents a summary of those trials.

The aim of this project is to produce cotton with increased levels of the two enzymes in the alcohol fermentation pathway through the insertion of extra copies of the genes using Agrobaeterium transformation. In addition, existing ethanol fermentation rates will be experimentally further reduced by targeting the ADH enzyme with antisense constructs. The resulting transgenic plants can then be tested in controlled conditions for altered anaerobic tolerance.

Production of cotton in Australia is very dependent on insecticides for the control of the major pests, Helicoverpa spp, mites and sucking insects. This approach has resulted in even greater reliance on insecticides because of pest resurgence and the need to control secondary pest outbreaks. For many years now some researchers have been espousing a view that beneficial insects - predators and parasites- are important in the management of some of these pests. However, disruption by insecticide sprays has often negated any effect beneficials might have in managing pest populations. Despite intensive research over many years to quantify the importance of beneficial insects, it seems we are still a long way from understanding just how effective they are. In fact there are some mixed messages emerging from recent research (Stanley and Gregg 1994). According to Robert Mensah, NSW Agriculture, these mixed messages have come about because most researchers have evaluated the performance of beneficial insects only on the number of prey individuals can eat, grouping them as important or non-important. However the significance of predation to prey populations depends upon (1) the total number of predators present and (2) the predators ability to find and consume prey. For example, individual predators may consume only small numbers of prey; however, if predator density is high relative to prey density then predators may cause significant mortality in prey populations. Conversely, individual predators may consume large numbers of prey, but if predator density is low relative to prey density the overall effect on prey populations may be slight. The concerted action of these beneficial insects to control prey is more important. Researchers must therefore understand how whole communities of generalist and specialist natural enemies act to suppress pests e. g. Helicoverpa spp , not just the individual species which we introduce or augment.